LexisNexis® Risk Solutions, a global big data, technology and analytics company, is today pleased to announce the retention of the Best Financial Crime Intelligence and Research Data award at the acclaimed Compliance Register Platinum Awards...

At least four U.S. agencies are investigating former officials of a now-bankrupt oil and gas company once majority owned by troubled hedge fund manager Platinum Partners, according to a legal filing submitted last week.

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XL Catlin has enhanced its Platinum Property insurance program with a new terrorism and political violence insurance option. XL Catlin’s Platinum Property program allows businesses to address 100 percent of their commercial property risks under...

Hindustan Platinum, India's leading manufacturer and refiner of precious metal products, has received Good Delivery accreditation from the London Bullion Market Association for silver bars produced f...

Platinum is an exceedingly rare, silvery-white precious metal used in jewelry making, electronics components and various industrial applications. About half of all global platinum consumption is for the manufacture of automobile catalytic converters. [1]

Platinum is exceedingly rare (about 30 times rarer than gold) and found in only a few deposits worldwide. The largest known primary reserves are in South Africa's Bushweld complex, followed by deposits near Norilsk, Russia and the Sudbury Basin, Canada.

What Impacts the Price of Platinum?

Because so much of the platinum's demand stems from car manufacturers, downturns in the auto industry can significantly affect the metal's price. During the market meltdown in 2008, for example, platinum prices fell 65% from their peak, driven downward in part by faltering car sales worldwide.

In addition, in 2008 platinum experienced a surplus that is expected to continue well into 2009, and perhaps even 2010. This oversupply has also negatively impacted platinum prices.

However, in early 2009, platinum started to regain its strength. As investors returned to the metal, seeking a safe haven, holdings of ETF Securities's Physical Platinum ETF (LSE: PHPT.L) rose 87% over the first quarter of the year.[2]

In April 2009, ETF Securities announced it would launch a bullion-backed platinum ETF in the U.S.[3] (a similar ETF already exists for European investors), which led some to speculate that hoarding bullion for the ETF could cause shortages and drive up prices.[4] Similar concerns were raised about the launch of ETFS's first platinum ETF back in 2007, but the fund's impact on the market was hard to discern at the time, due to roving blackouts in South Africa that had disrupted supply.[5]